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Comcast Horror Stories and the Ever-Versatile Mobile Phone

As if Comcast were not already notorious for its terrible customer service (remember the cringeworthy, 8 minute cancellation call?), here’s another horror story to add to the annals.

Washington native Lisa Brown had been trying to change the name on her family’s billing account for quite a while, over the phone and in person. It turns out that Comcast employee Christopher Elliott changed the billing name from Ricardo Brown (Lisa’s husband) to “Asshole Brown.”

It’s a bad day for Elliott, because the regional VP of communications vowed to fire him. Maybe he can get a job at Sherwin Williams where he can pitch the evocative name for one of their new colors, preferably a shade of cocoa.

Outraged by the blatant disrespect, Lisa demanded some compensation. So Comcast waived the $60 cancellation fee (how generous). After some pressing, Brown was able to get a refund for two years of service (the amount of time she subscribed to Comcast.

Of course, there are better things to do on your cell phone than calling Comcast customer service. One of these things is shooting a feature length movie.

One such movie, Tangerine, made its premiere last week at the Sundance Film Festival. The indie movie about a Hollywood transgender prostitute scouring the city for her pimp, was shot entirely on a few Apple iPhone 5S’s and was edited on an $8 app called Filmic. Filming also required an anamorphic lens adapter and steadycam rig.

Not only do these phones have novel uses in hot and gritty LA, but they can also be found among Alaskan Mormons who have found a way in the harsh winter to congregate without having to traverse miles of dangerous road. Using their phones, they call into service.

Newser quotes Katrina Campbell, “‘My favorite part of church is roll-call,’ because members announce where they’re calling from.” Sometimes people calling in are thousands of miles away.

It’s a testament to human ingenuity, the new uses we find for technology. Practically no one imagined the above uses back in 80’s when people had cinder blocks for phones. Likewise, it’s very possible that practically no one has any idea what cell phone technology will be capable of 30 years from now.